Nico Castel International Master Singer Competition Libretti Translations As Well As the “Manual for Spanish Lyric Diction.”

Home , Le Cid (opera), Mario Lanza

been associated with the Gran Liceo in Barcelona, the Spoleto Festival, the New York City Opera, Opera National de Paris and the Kirov Opera. Ms. N I C Dornemann received an Emmy Award for her contribution to the highly M S acclaimed first “Live From the Met” first telecast of La Bohème. She is the C author of Complete Preparation: A Guide to Auditioning for the Opera.

Jonathan Griffith, Co-f o u n d e r , Ar t i s t i c Di r e c t o r , a n d Principal

Co n d u c t o r , DCINY Rewarding and acknowledging excellent vocal Jonathan Griffith is an active conductor, educator, lecturer, and consultant. technique and artistry in opera and oratorio His many conducting credits in this country and abroad include the Mormon Nico Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City; Manhattan Philharmonic and New I n t er C nastel a t i o n a l Master England Symphonic Ensemble, both in performances at Carnegie Hall; Singer Competition The European Symphony Orchestra, Spain; Virtuosi Pregensis Chamber Nico Castel International Orchestra, Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, and Dvorák Chamber Orchestra, Czech Republic; Bialystok State Philharmonic, Poland; and several regional orchestras and choruses in the U.S. In the summer of 2009, Maestro Griffith led his vocal ensemble, the Jonathan Griffith Singers, to the Master Singer Competition People’s Republic of China, conducting the China Premiere of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man - Music for Peace performed by the celebrated XinYa ©Jeff Goldberg/ESTO courtesy of Carnegie Hall KongQi Symphony Orchestra at Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall and Shanghai’s Oriental Arts Center.

Paul Plishka, In t e r n a t i o n a l l y -r e n o w n e d s i n g e r PRESIDENT’S DAY WEEKEND Paul Plishka’s extraordinary voice and impeccable artistry combine to make him one of the world’s foremost singers, praised by critics for his smooth, Featuring the finalists of the L. Algozzini SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011 beautifully produced bass and polishedS. Nanni dramatic skills. This distinguished American artist has become one of the most widely acclaimed and sought- 8:30 PM after singers of our time. A leading member of the Metropolitan Opera roster since 1967, Paul Plishka also appears regularly with major opera WEILL RECITAL HALL AT CARNEGIE HALL companies in North American cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, Baltimore,M. E.Armijo Houston, Pittsburgh, Dallas, San Diego, H. Sorensen Featuring: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. After the concert one female and one male winner will be named the 2011 Nico Castel International Master Singers! Female Finalists: Lisa Algozzini, Maria Elena Armijo, Distinguished Concerts International New York Eileen Mackintosh, Holly Sorensen and Perri Sussman C. Austin 212-707-8566 • [email protected]. Sussman • www.DCINY.org Male Finalists: Cody Austin, John Kaneklides, New York Opera Studio • 212-721-5290 Steven L. Nanni, Nicholas Tamagna www.newyorkoperastudio.org and Kreshnik Zhabjaku

J. Kaneklides N. Tamagna DISTINGUISHED CONCERTS INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK 250 W 57th Street, Suite 1610 www.DCINY.org Co-s P o n s o r e d b Y t H e New York, NY 10107 • 212.707.8566 The Art of Performance— E. Mackintosh ne w Yo r k oP e r A st u d i o Toll Free: 1.877.MYDCINY • [email protected] The Power of Education. K. Zhabjaku 7

Saturday, February 19, 2011, 8:30 pm Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Zabbi is Musical Director for New York Opera Studio and on faculty of the NYOS Summer Program at Vassar for Singers and Pianists. Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) Iris Derke, Co-Founder and General Director Jonathan Griffith, Co-Founder and Artistic Director Meet the Judges and New York Opera Studio (NYOS) Nico Castel, Ar t i s t i c Di r e c t o r , NYOS Nico Castel Artistic Director A multi-talented artist and scholar, Nico Castel has been a member of the Carol Castel, General Manager Metropolitan Opera Company as staff diction coach and artist for the past 37 years. Mr. Castel is the undisputed and internationally acclaimed expert on language, Present diction and style for singers. Currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School of Music, he teaches master classes in diction and style for singers at universities and opera companies throughout the world. Mr. Castel has authored 20 volumes of Opera 2011 Nico Castel International Master Singer Competition Libretti translations as well as the “Manual for Spanish Lyric Diction.”

Bob Chilcott, Co m p o s e r

Or a t o r i o Bob Chilcott has been involved in choral music for most of his life. He was a chorister and choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and for 12 years was a member of the vocal group The King’s Singers. Since 1997 he has worked as a full-time Lisa Algozzini Ro s s i n i : La u d a m u s t e composer and has written a wide variety of choral music. He has over 100 pieces Cody Austin Ve r d i : In g e m i s c o (f r o m Re q u i e m ) published by Oxford University Press, and a number of his choral works have been published in German, Swedish, Norwegian, and Slovenian. In late 2007, Signum Perri Sussman Mo z a r t : La u d a m u s t e released to great critical acclaim a CD of his music, Man I Sing, on which Bob conducts the BBC Singers. As well as being Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Steven L. Nanni Ha n d e l : Ev e r y Va l l e y Sha l l b e Singers, he has conducted many other leading choirs in their field, including the Ex a l t e d (f r o m Me s s i ah ) World Youth Choir, the RIAS Kammerchor, Orphei Drangar from Sweden, and Jauna Musika from Lithuania. Eileen Mackintosh Ro s s i n i : In f l a m m a t u s (f r o m St a b a t a t e r M) Barbara Conrad, In t e r n a t i o n a l Vo ca l Ar t i s t John Kaneklides Me n d e l s s o h n : If w i t h a l l y o u r Barbara Conrad’s luscious, mezzo-soprano voice has captivated audiences in opera h e a r t s y o u t r u l y s e e k m e houses and concert halls throughout Europe and the US, including the Metropolitan Opera Co., NY City Opera, Weiner Staatsoper, Carnegie Hall, NY Philharmonic and Maria Elena Armijo Mo z a r t : Al l e l u i a the London Symphony. A recipient of the University of Texas Distinguished Alumnus Award, she has been honored with the founding of the Barbara Conrad Endowed Kreshnik Zhabjaku Ha n d e l : Bu t Wh o May Ab i d e Scholarship in Fine Arts. Ms. Conrad is on the faculty of the NYOS Summer Program Holly Sorensen Ve r d i : Li b e r s c r i p t u s (f r o m Re q u i e m ) as special guest artist. Nicholas Tamagna Bach : Qu o n i a m t u s o l u s (f r o m Joan Dornemann, Co-f o u n d e r a n d Ar t i s t i c Di r e c t o r , In t e r n a t i o n a l Ma s s in F m a j o r , BWV 233) Vo ca l Ar t s In s t i t u t e

Opera, Syracuse Opera, Dicapo Opera Theatre, Bay View Music Festival, Tacoma Op e r a Opera, Bellevue Opera, Dona Ana Lyric Opera, AIMS, and OperaWorks.

Maria Elena Armijo Sa i n t Sa e n s : Mo n Co u e u r s’o u v r e t a Kreshnik Zhabjaku, Ba r i t o n e v o i x Kreshnik Zhabjaku began his singing career at the age of four. At John Kaneklides La l o : Va i n e m e n t , m a b i e n -a i m é e twelve he won first prize in the ”Young Voices” competition in his native Albania. He received his first graduate degree in 1997 from Eileen Mackintosh Ma s s e n e t : Pl e u r e z ! p l e u r e z m e s y e u x ! Tirana’s Academy of Fine Arts and went on to perform with many (f r o m Le Cid) outstanding orchestras in Europe, appearing regularly in France, Italy, and Austria. He also received a master’s degree in Vocal Nicholas Tamagna Gl u c k : Am o u r , v i e n s r e n d r e à m o n Performance from the Mannes College of Music in New York in â m e (f r o m Or f e o e d Eu r i d i c e ) (Fr e n ch 2003. Among many distinctions and honors, in 2008 the Washington Post praised him as “a recitalist in his prime...His soothing voice was a conduit for character.” Ve r s i o n ) Holly Sorensen Sa i n t Sa e n s : Am o u r ! v i e n s a i d e r m a Holly Sorensen, Me z z o So p r a n o f a i b l e s s e ! Often hailed as a “true” mezzo soprano, Holly Sorensen is Steven L. Nanni Do n i z e t t i : Un a f u r t i va l a g r i m a - known for her rich, colorful and expressive timbre. A gifted “L’elisir d’a m o r e ” singing actor with great versatility, Ms. Sorensen has been described as having “a grand time!...dispensing attitude with Perri Sussman Me y e r b e e r : No b l e s s e i g n e u r s , s a l u t relish and producing some impressively chilling tones” - Opera News. Recent season highlights include performances with Utah Cody Austin Ci l e a : E l a s o l i t a s t o r i a d e l pa s t o r e Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Oratorio Society of (f r o m L’A r l e s i a n a ) New York at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Sorensen has a distinguished list of roles performed on both the operatic and concert stage. She has also participated and placed in Lisa Algozzini Pu cc i n i : Qu a n d o m’e n v o ’ varied competitions throughout the U.S. Kreshnik Zhabjaku Ro s s i n i : Co m e u n Ap e d e i Gi o r n i d’Ap r i l e Nicholas Tamagna, Countertenor

New York City native Nicholas Tamagna was seen as Giulio Cesare Announcement of Master Singer Winners in Giulio Cesare in Egitto with Bel Cantanti Opera, described by the Washington Post as handling “his complex runs and vocal Please make certain your cellular phone or other electronic devices are switched off. ornaments fluently through all eight of his arias.” He made his debut performance as Orpheus in Orfeo ed Euridice with Brooklyn Repertory Opera and reprised this role with Opera Memphis in January 2010. Opera Now described him in the role of Orpheus as “exquisite, combining perfect tonal quality with substantial power. His voice soared About the Competition with piecing [sic] sadness and soothed with a silky beauty, giving a glimpse, perhaps, of why castrati voices became the divos of the Baroque era.” Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) and the New York Opera Studio (NYOS) are proud to introduce the Nico Castel International Master Singer Competition. A competition like no other in New York City, offered to aspiring Violetta Zabbi, Acc o m pa n i s t singers who wish to advance their careers to the next level, this competition rewards Dr. Zabbi received her PhD from Odessa State Academy of Music in piano and acknowledges excellent vocal technique and artistry in opera and oratorio. performance and musicology. She is vice president and on faculty at Long Island Conservatory of Music, guest accompanist at Hofstra University, and rehearsal pianist Thank you for joining us for the inaugural year of this prestigious competition! and coach at Regina Opera. In 2010 Violetta performed with the Opera Manhattan Repertory Theatre in Eugene Onegin and in 2011 Piazza Navona, by Bergman. Dr. 4 5

Meet the Artists Castel. Steven’s operatic roles include Nemorino, Ferrando, Tito, Count Almaviva, and Ernesto. Steven’s oratorio roles include Bach’s B-Minor Mass and the St. Matthew Passion, Haydn’s The So p r a n o Lisa Algozzini, Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah. Steven soloed with the Florida Philharmonic, La Lirica di Venezia, The Lisa Algozzini has studied at The Juilliard School, Renata Scotto Juilliard School, Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Liederkranz Opera Academy, Aspen Music Festival, Dolora Zajick Institute, Hall and Opera Company of Dublin, Ireland. Steven has had the and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome. She has privilege to work with Placido Domingo, Renata Scotto and Montserrat Caballe. performed Suor Angelica, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), La Chauve- Souris (L’Enfant es les Sortilèges), & Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas). She has won first place in competitions at Opera Pacific, Music Eileen Mackintosh, So p r a n o Teachers’ Association of CA, Intimate Opera, and the Opera Reading Club of Hollywood, and was a finalist in the Palm Springs Opera Guild, LA Eileen Mackintosh is a lifelong musician: singer, teacher, Music Center Spotlight Awards, and Classical Singer Magazine Convention. Her CD, conductor and pianist. Recent singing performance highlights Cleopatra’s Voice, will debut this spring. include the roles of Lady Macbeth, Aida and Hanna Glawari. Eileen will sing Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco with Amici Opera later this year. As an avid concert artist, Ms. Mackintosh will sing Cody Austin, Te n o r the soprano solo in Mozart’s Requiem with Opus Cantorum and the Vier Letzte Lieder of Strauss in concert with Oswego Opera Cody Austin, a Texas native, just made his professional debut in this spring. Equally passionate about teaching and conducting, Eileen maintains Otello with the Opera Company of Philadelphia as Roderigo. a full-time private voice studio and is the newly-appointed Chorus Master for the Other roles include George Gibbs in the world premiere of Our Delaware Valley Opera. Ms. Mackintosh earned her M.M. from the University of Town, Alfredo and Gastone (La Traviata), Camille (The Merry Connecticut and B.M. in Music Education from SUNY at Fredonia. Widow), Larry/Matt (The Face on the Barroom Floor), and Kudrjas (Kat’a Kabanova). Mr. Austin is a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts. He has performed with Opera New Jersey, Central John Kaneklides, Te n o r City Opera, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, and Ocean City Pops, among others. A vibrant young talent, John has been described as a “richly Concert works include Verdi’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Dubois’ The Seven mellifluous tenor” (Classical Voice of North Carolina). Recent Last Words of Christ. Mr. Austin has won awards with the Dallas Opera Guild, the roles include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Kaspar in Amahl and Mario Lanza Institute, and Opera Index. the Night Visitors, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, and Gastone in La traviata (Opera Carolina). John has also performed as Perri Sussman, Me z z o So p r a n o tenor soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah (Central Piedmont Opera), Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, and has an upcoming Perri Sussman recently made her Symphony Space debut with performance of Bach’s St. John’s Passion. He has received several vocal awards, the New York Lyric Opera Theater as Le Prince Charmant in including the Louise McFarland Award (Metropolitan Opera National Council). John scenes from Cendrillon. She is a first year graduate student at holds degrees in Voice and Business from Winthrop University. Manhattan School of Music where she was recently seen as Kate in a scene from Owen Wingrave. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Westminster Choir College where she performed La Chatte Maria Elena Armijo, Me z z o So p r a n o Blanche in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges and covered Cherubino in The Ms. Armijo recently appeared as Lady Pamela in Fra Diavolo with Marriage of Figaro. She won second place in the NATS New York City Chapter and Bronx Opera. Operatic repertoire include Hansel (Hansel and received the Lucille and Leo Martin Scholarship in the Westminster voice competition. Gretel) Amastre (Serse), Adah (The Naughty Marietta), Annina (La Traviata), Angelina (La Cenerentola), Stéphano (Roméo et Steven Nanni, Te n o r Juliette), Mercédès (Carmen), Aminta (Il Re Pastore), L’Enfant (L’Enfant et les Sortiléges), Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Venus Steven is a native of Binghamton, New York and began his artistic life by studying (Orphée aux Enfers), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), and Dona Elvira the violin. He has been described as having the “intelligence, artistic potential, (Don Giovanni). She has performed with Pocket Opera of New York, Light Opera vocal talent and ambition to have a very important career in this business”- Nico of New York, New Rochelle Opera, Opera Manhattan Repertory Theater, Ash Lawn 4 5

Opera, Syracuse Opera, Dicapo Opera Theatre, Bay View Music Festival, Tacoma Op e r a Opera, Bellevue Opera, Dona Ana Lyric Opera, AIMS, and OperaWorks.

Bob Chilcott, Co m p o s e r

Ms. Dornemann, Metropolitan Opera Assistant Conductor, is one of the most highly Intermission respected opera coaches in the world today. She has worked with such singers as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Sherrill Milnes, Kiri Te Kanawa, Please make certain your cellular phone or other electronic devices are switched off. Montserrat Caballe, Deborah Voigt, Renée Fleming, Leo Nucci and others. She has been associated with the Gran Liceo in Barcelona, the Spoleto Festival, the New York City Opera, Opera National de Paris and the Kirov Opera. Ms. N I C Dornemann received an Emmy Award for her contribution to the highly M S acclaimed first “Live From the Met” first telecast of La Bohème. She is the C author of Complete Preparation: A Guide to Auditioning for the Opera.

Jonathan Griffith, Co-f o u n d e r , Ar t i s t i c Di r e c t o r , a n d Principal